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"Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience."

Text: Ephesians 5:6

THE ARSENAL OF SATAN

Many are the weapons in Satan’s arsenal. He employed them most deviously and effectively.

1. Infiltration

Ananias and Sapphira were used by the evil one. Satan filled their hearts and tried to make use of them in the Church in Jerusalem (Acts 5).

2. Persecution

This was employed against the Church, right from the start. Believers were killed for their faith in Christ. (Stephen was the first known Christian martyr- Acts 8). Believers were scattered far and wide (Acts 8-9).

3. Deception

Arguably, the most deadly of all Satan’s weapons must be that of deception. Paul had to deal with the problem of deception time and again. (Colossians was devoted to battling the problem of deception that threatened the Church in Colosse).

THE DEADLY WORK OF DECEPTION

Let us consider the following texts that warn of deception.

1. Deception in the form of false apostles.

For such are false apostles, deceitful workers,
transforming themselves into apostles of Christ.
2 CORINTHIANS 11:13

2. Deception in the form of signs and wonders.

The coming of the lawless one is according
to the working of Satan, with all power, signs
and lying wonders
2 THESSALONIANS 2:9

SATAN DESCRIBED AS A DECEIVER TOO

The Book of Revelation identifies the Devil in the most candid manner in the following text.

So the great dragon was cast out, the serpent of old,
called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world…
REVELATION 12:9

The apostle Paul was right and wise to warn his readers that they must not take even their salvation for granted. They must check and make sure that they have not been deceived by the false and “empty words” of idolaters.